There is no right or wrong, it really is a personal decision - what the person refers. I prefer a desktop for my office, but I love my laptop for traveling. I do have one employee who prefers using a laptop at the office. It also depends on your software and the requirements.

Pay_My_Claims

I'm middle of the road. I like my laptop because I'm not married to my office if I need to work somewhere else but I always hook up a keyboard and mouse to it because I don't like the way the keys on laptops feel. My husband calls my laptop a desktop with an extra keyboard.

I use my laptop for travel too, HOWEVER if you have PHI on it, it's NOT a good idea, laptops get stolen, lost, etc. What I do is use a remote access service and make a secure connection to my desktop via LogMeIn when I'm traveling. So if my laptop were stolen NO PHI and NONE of my work is on there at all. My login credentials are NEVER saved on the laptop so if it were stolen they would not be able to access my remote access. I also change my logins via my desktop several times a month. I'd NEVER risk my work on a laptop... ever.

I actually don't keep any PHI on my laptop, I use it to remotely access my work desktop. Great point though. Many don't consider that. I would only use a laptop for billing if it was a web based program, or to access a secure computer.

I also hook up a mouse and keyboard. My new laptop has a number pad too though, so I can get away without the keyboard better.

I should clarify even further. I have NO applications on my laptop.. I "connect" to the internet via the remote access to my desktop for EVERYTHING.. even internet. For example, if I check my email, I go through the secure log in connection, connect to my computer and open my outlook directly from my laptop so there is NO change of putting anything on the laptop. I don't even have Outlook installed on my laptop, every thing I do is via remote access, even if I'm sitting on my couch in the next room Same goes if I am accessing my clients databases, NOTHING is stored or even viewed in any browser on the laptop.Same applies if I'm going on the web, it's via my desktop, secure login and then I always log off the desktop before logging out of the remote access. Basically my laptop serves as a remote MONITOR only.

I can only state my own preference.. it's much easier for someone to lift/steal laptop than the desktop.. course this is just my being over cautious. Also I found that if I didn't PLAN to remove the laptop it was too much of a temptation to install applications, put clients info on and PHI, etc.. and then later in a hurry grab it and go.. I prefer just to use the laptop like another set of eyes into my PC. Just my preference.

I use a Toshiba laptop at the office. It has a 17" screen. I use a USB fullsize keyboard, and a USB mouse with it. I like a laptop because at the end of the day, I can lock it up in a cabinet.During working hours, it is cabled to the desk so that no one can come in and walk away with it.